Counter-terrorism operation regime declared in Dagestan

Special operation in Russia's Dagestan (archive)

MAKHACHKALA, December 11. /TASS/. A counter-terrorism operation regime has been declared in three settlements of Dagestan’s Tsumadinsky district, a spokesperson for the National Anti-Terrorist Committee’s operational headquarters in Dagestan told TASS on Friday.

"On Friday at 6am a counter-terrorist operation regime was declared in the settlements of Gimerso, Gigatly and Khushtada, as well as in near the Alak mountain in Dagestan’s Tsumadinsky district. Search for militants is underway," the spokesperson said.

The Dagestan Republic is part of the North Caucasus Federal District. It also comprises Kabardino-Balkaria, Ingushetia, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Chechnya, North Ossetia and the Stavropol Territory.

According to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, 243 gunmen were neutralized in Russia last year, including 38 chieftains, 644 militants and their henchmen were detained. Security forces conducted 74 counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus , seizing 272 home-made explosives and a significant number of firearms, with 219 criminals becoming subject to criminal penalties.